Growth can be exciting—but it can also make people nervous.
When a wealth management firm expands, for example, some clients may wonder whether the personal relationships they value will disappear. Wealth advisor Chris Wedell saw an opportunity to prove the opposite.
On September 9, Volare Wealth Advisors publicly announced its partnership with WFA, officially introducing WFA Volare after the firms had spent months operating as one team. The partnership took effect January 1, giving advisors time to integrate their teams before sharing the news with clients and the public. The combined firm now manages more than $750 million in client assets across Missouri, Alabama, and Louisiana. Yet the announcement isn’t really about growth.
“This was never about getting bigger,” Wedell says. “It was about getting better for our clients.”
More support without changing the relationship
Clients will continue working with the advisors they already know. The biggest difference happens behind the scenes.
The combined firm includes 16 professionals, among them three Certified Financial Planner™ professionals and two Chartered Financial Consultant professionals, as well as advisors serving retirees, high-earning professionals, women experiencing financial transitions, business owners, and elite athletes with their families.
Instead of relying on one advisor to solve every challenge alone, clients now benefit from a team of advisors working together to find the best solutions.
“One of my favorite parts has been having people I trust to brainstorm with,” Wedell says. “When someone brings a different perspective or has seen a situation before, everybody learns from it. Our clients benefit because there are more people thinking through their situation.”
Women continue changing the industry
Wedell and Laura Hinton founded Volare, and women have helped shape the firm’s culture from the beginning. Joining WFA expands that women-led presence into multiple markets while creating more opportunities to serve women and families.
Wedell says representation matters, because financial planning is one of the most personal conversations that people can have.
“Women often tell me they just want someone who understands where they’re coming from,” Wedell says. “I’ve always been passionate about helping women build confidence around money, and I love seeing more women choose this career. If we can open more doors for clients and future advisors at the same time, that’s something I’m really proud to be part of.”
As a StrongHer Money Ambassador, Wedell has spent years encouraging women to become active participants in their financial futures while inspiring more women to pursue careers in wealth management.
Building a firm for the next generation
Helping families plan for future generations has always been part of Wedell’s work. This partnership gave her an opportunity to apply the same thinking to the firm itself.
The expanded team brings together experienced advisors and younger professionals who can learn from one another while embracing new technology, fresh ideas, and new ways to serve clients. It also creates continuity, giving families the confidence that their advisor won’t be carrying every responsibility alone.
“I’ve always wanted clients to feel like they’re our only client,” Wedell says. “This partnership doesn’t change anything about those relationships. It just means there are more people behind the scenes supporting them.”
Dany Martin, partner and wealth advisor at WFA Volare, says joining forces felt natural because both firms had already built similar cultures. “We knew the people, we knew the culture, and we knew we cared about clients in the same way,” Martin says. “Bringing our teams together gives us more opportunities to learn from each other and continue building on the relationships we’ve spent years earning.”
Wedell doesn’t see a downside to the partnership for her clients. She’s confident that they’ll continue receiving the same personal attention they’ve always valued—now backed by a larger team.
“One of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received was from a client who told me they always felt like they were my only client,” Wedell says. “That’s exactly how I hope people feel five years from now. They’ll still have the advisor they know and trust. They’ll just have an entire team helping support them.”
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of WFA Volare. To learn more, visit WFAVolare.com.
